The Demon King's Bewilderment
There had always been a lingering doubt about the nightmares. I was the king of the demon realm, a place teeming with the mightiest monsters. And Lur—the one chosen as my master—was undoubtedly one of the strongest in the human world. So why...?
"W-Wood Golem...?"
It was a worthless pest: oversized for no reason, making it an easy target; slow as molasses; and packing no real destructive punch. Its arm was choking her neck, wasn't it?
-Crack!
With one hand, I casually shattered the Wood Golem's right arm that was gripping my master's throat.
"Gugrgrgrgrgrguk!!!"
The Wood Golem must have been in agony from its broken arm. It collapsed to the ground, rolling side to side like mad.
"N-No way... Y-You're joking, right? Right?"
My master, freed from the wooden chunk's grasp, stared at me in stunned disbelief, like someone who'd just escaped death's door. Was she hiding her power...? If so, that would make her an absolute monster. To conceal her strength so perfectly that even I, the demon king, couldn't detect it.
I mulled over what that lackey who fed me in the demon realm had once said. When the mutt that scarfed down my leftovers got chosen as a summon:
"The beings in the demon realm are incredibly powerful. It must have gone to the side of someone extraordinarily strong!"
So even those dime-a-dozen demon mutts would be powerhouses in this world. And when I was chosen as Lur's summon:
"C-Calm down! If a human's worthy of having you as a subordinate... they must be godlike!"
That guy was my loyal retainer who'd never lied to me once. It had to be true. So why was my godlike master acting like this?
Argh, seriously! I had no clue!
"G-Get me out of here! Please, let me out!"
Melle abandoned her summon and started screaming to escape. Sorry, but no leaving without my permission.
"What the hell is this smoke?! I can't get out!"
Demon realm beings can naturally cloak their surroundings in black mist. It darkens the area and amps up our power. Honestly, overkill for a wooden lump like this. But if anyone saw our fight, my cute little master might get in trouble. Don't worry, master— we're invisible from outside.
"Huaaaang... P-Please... let me out...!"
I told you no. Look, she left marks on my master's neck. This flawless skin's gonna get ruined.
I conjured a black flame at my fingertip.
"W-What is that...?"
My master shrank back like a frightened rabbit. When I brought my finger closer, she scooted away a bit.
Man, this is frustrating. Thanks to my Constraint, I can only speak like some brain-damaged kid.
"This... good thing..."
Ugh! Even I'm dying of frustration saying it. With this handsome face, talking like a retard kills my cool factor.
My master had cried when I mumbled "meat..." all garbled, so I'd sworn off talking. But...
"Trust... me..."
"O-Okay..."
Thank goodness. She must've sensed my sincerity—she approached the flame without tears this time.
Haa... I'm so embarrassed I'll die. Never opening my mouth again. Girls like quiet, stylish guys, right?
-Sizzle!
My flame instantly healed the wound near her neck. Then I touched her knee, cleansing the bloodied stain. It hurt my heart seeing that pearl-like skin marred.
Alright then. Time to deal with the bitch who did this to my master.
I slowly turned toward Melle. Tears streaming, she reached out desperately.
"No! Please! I was wrong! Lur, stop your summon!"
Even if my crying master begged me to stop, I wouldn't. Hurting my precious, adorable master? Unforgivable.
I stepped over the Wood Golem—it shattered like it'd been hacked by an axe. Wasn't even on purpose; not worth noticing. Who cares about accidentally stepping on an ant?
"Uwaaaang... Hic...! S-Stay away... Stay back...!"
Suddenly, Melle grabbed a rock from the ground and hurled it at me wildly.
As if that'd work. Haha, where to start? She kicked my master's knee, so yours first. Neck next—wash it and wait.
"Gehuuuuk... Uuuk...!"
-Thud
Ugh, gross, fuck! Foaming at the mouth was bad enough, but she pissed herself like a damn baby!
Ugh... stomach's churning. Better just curse her and be done.
If I attacked now, that stench would soak me. Clutching my gut—feeling last night's salad rising—I headed back to my master's shadow.
"Y-You fought for me? Thank you... and sorry..."
Huh? What's this? Master was crying? Did I make her cry? Did I screw up?
Panicking, frozen stiff, Lur toddled over and suddenly hugged my body.
"Sorry for keeping my distance 'cause you look scary. That was my fault. I'm trash..."
That was it? She was just avoiding me? Since when?
"Sorry... And I don't even know your name. I'm a failure as a master."
Well, yeah—I never told her. Seems my master, strongest in the human world, has a heart too soft. Just tell her the name now. That's what they called me in the demon realm.
"Thana... tos..."
"Huh? Thanatos—that's your name?"
I nodded. Lur beamed cutely and petted my head.
"Thank you, Thanatos."
Her smile was melting me. Feeling a warmth I'd never known in the demon realm, I slowly slipped into her shadow, becoming one with her.
The mist cleared. Only the ordinary tree that was once the Wood Golem and the collapsed Melle remained.
Lur headed to class but, being too kind-hearted, took the fallen Melle to the nurse's office. I wanted to say, "Leave that trash on the floor," but it was her choice. A summon must respect their master's decisions.
"Frustrating, but cute. That's our master. Wonder when she'll show her real power."
Class ended, students left for dinner, leaving the room silent. Lur pretended to sleep until everyone was gone, then packed her bag when the footsteps faded.
But...
"Hey, trash rank. Seen Melle anywhere?"
"Yeah, we went to the bathroom after you, but she hasn't come back since first period."
Melle's gang suddenly cornered her for interrogation.
"Uh, she... wasn't feeling well, so she's in the nurse's office. Stomach issues..."
The gang eyed her suspiciously, not buying it. As Lur shrank under their stares,
"Enough!"
Melle burst in, yelling at her own crew. They flinched—one jumped like a scared cat.
"M-Melle?"
"W-Why so scary? We were just messing with Lur like always..."
"Don't touch Lur."
That hit them like a brain freeze. Who'd been the first to bully Lur? And now she was snapping at them for it?
But that was my curse at work. The moment Melle or anyone connected to her harmed Lur, Melle would feel excruciating pain.
"Ugh... Get away from Lur, quick!"
She knew the curse instinctively, even if she didn't know when, who, or why. Designed that way.
At her frantic shout, they backed off. Lur looked utterly confused.
Melle dragged her two away. Lur, not grasping the sudden drama, scratched her soft cheek, slung her bag carefully, and headed to the dormitory.
That night, no nightmares. She slept deeper than ever.
Melle, meanwhile, suffered nightmares worse than any before. Vivid ones every hour, leaving her drenched in sweat upon waking.
"Why the hell is this happening to me!"
No use complaining. The nightmares were identical: chased through an endless dark forest by deer trying to devour her.
"Please... make it stop... please..."
From then on, dark circles haunted Melle's eyes. She never touched Lur again.